News Summary
The Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) school system is pioneering the ethical implementation of artificial intelligence in education. The initiative includes an AI training program for educators, aimed at enhancing classroom learning and addressing the growing impact of AI technologies. A task force has created a group called AI Ambassadors, who will train teachers on responsible AI usage. Collaborating with William & Mary, WJCC plans ongoing training sessions and has released a Generative AI Guidebook for students. The initiative also includes partnerships to prevent plagiarism and discussions on AI’s role in education.
Williamsburg, Virginia — The Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) school system has undertaken a significant initiative to position itself as a leader in Virginia in the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. With the launch of an AI training program for educators, the school system aims to enhance classroom learning and address the growing influence of AI technologies in educational settings.
In the fall of the previous year, WJCC established a task force dedicated to guiding the ethical implementation of Generative AI. This initiative has led to the creation of a group called the AI Ambassadors, which consists of educators from over 16 schools within the district. The group is tasked with the responsibility of training teachers on the effective and responsible use of AI tools in their classrooms.
WJCC is collaborating with educational and computer science faculty from William & Mary to support the training program. This partnership aims to equip educators with the necessary skills to utilize AI technologies for lesson design and classroom activities. Training sessions commenced in June and additional sessions are planned throughout the summer.
Generative AI technologies, including tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Google Gemini, can create text, images, audio, and video based on pre-existing information. WJCC educators and students are already utilizing various AI tools, such as MagicSchool AI and Microsoft CoPilot, and many software platforms used within the division, including Canva and Nearpod, have integrated AI features.
Educational leaders recognize the importance of AI literacy, stating that students commonly interact with AI on various digital platforms without formal instruction. The prevalence of AI-generated summaries, especially in Google searches, signifies that students are likely encountering AI outputs even before they receive guidance on their use. This phenomenon has drawn a parallel to calculators’ introduction in math classes, suggesting both AI and calculators serve as beneficial educational tools, provided they are used appropriately.
To promote responsible AI usage within the classroom, WJCC has developed a Generative AI Guidebook. This resource instructs students on how to use AI responsibly, including strategies for fact-checking and ensuring that AI resources are utilized only with teacher approval. Furthermore, the school board approved a contract valued at $43,000 for a two-year partnership with CopyLeaks to implement plagiarism prevention and AI detection measures for grades 6 to 12.
Discussions regarding AI’s role in education have gained momentum at the Virginia School Board Association meetings, where support for educators in managing AI usage has been a primary topic. In addition to WJCC’s efforts, William & Mary is focusing on integrating AI into its curriculum, with initiatives to provide guidelines and course policies related to AI usage in educational contexts. Faculty from the institution are collaborating to clarify best practices for employing AI in teaching and learning scenarios.
Additionally, the New minor in Artificial Intelligence launched by the School of Computing at William & Mary encompasses discussions on the applications of AI in various fields, including national security. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the WJCC AI Ambassadors group plans to reconvene in October to assess the progress made across the schools and take further steps in educating both staff and students on this transformative technology.
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Additional Resources
- Daily Press: WJCC Schools Prepares Teachers to Use AI in the Classroom
- Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence
- GovTech: Math Teachers Find Uses for AI in Lesson Planning, Tutoring
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Artificial Intelligence
- Daily Press: WJCC School Division Looks at Implementing AI in Teaching
- Google Search: AI in Education
- TechCrunch: Uber to Introduce Fixed Route Shuttles in Major US Cities
- Google Scholar: Artificial Intelligence in Education
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
